Healing

Part 23

Buffy followed Spike back into the Magic Box. Xander was pacing back and forth and immediately went to the vampire's side as they entered. He leaned in and whispered into Spike's ear.

"Everything okay?"

Spike grinned and whispered back.

"Fine luv. In fact we have the slayer seal of approval."

Xander’s eyes flew open in shock and he looked over at Buffy.

"Buff? You're okay with this?"

"Yep. No problems here. I'm on board with the Xander dates an evil demon thing. It's the other stuff ..."

She glanced over at Angel and made an eeww face.

"...that I'm not so sure about."

Angel glared at Spike and then at Xander.

"You had no right! What I do and with whom is none of your business!"

Xander looked at Spike and raised an eyebrow. Spike shrugged his shoulders in an 'I have no idea what he's going on about' look. Buffy just looked at Angel to see what he'd do next.

Angel began to pace, eventually coming to stand in front of Buffy. He took her hand and looked into her eyes.

"I'm sorry. I never meant you to find out this way. I - we - wanted to tell you but the time wasn't right. It's just so early in our relationship and the past can be so painful, can you forgive me for not telling you?"

Buffy looked at Spike and Xander who were both shaking with silent laughter, tears rolling down their faces. She looked back at Angel and waved her hands in the air in front of him.

"What the Hell are you talking about?"

"What were you talking about?"

"Spike was telling me about him and Angelus. And about Angelus's fixation on Xander, and can I just say eeeew!"

"Oh."

"So, what were you talking about? What relationship? And with who? Oh God! Please tell me it's not Cordelia. And should I be ready to stake you? 'Cause hello? Happy Angel equals evil Angelus!"

Angel turned even paler if that was possible. He looked over at Xander and Spike and growled. Cordy looked at Buffy and Angel and made gagging noises which set Spike off in even more laughter.

"My soul is permanent, a gift from the Powers That Be. I won't ever turn into Angelus again. And no, it's not Cordelia. I thought Spike had told you, otherwise I wouldn't have brought it up."

"Well, it's up, so spill."

"Can we talk in private? I don't think everyone needs to hear this."

Wesley, who had been quiet up until this point stood up. He turned to Angel and glared.

"Well, I see that you feel the need to keep your dirty little secret, so I shall save you the trouble! Angel you are a first class heel! If Xander can come out and admit to his friends that he is in love with a soulless demon why in Hell can you not tell them about us?! I shall tell you why! Because you don't love me at all!"

Wesley turned on his heel and ran out of the shop. Angel started to follow but was held back by the sun.

"I'll go after him. Geez Angel you really know how to make a guy feel loved. Spike? Will you wait here for me?"

"Sure luv, go catch up to the watcher."

"Thanks. Buff? Don't let Mr. Smooth here stake my vampire okay?"

Buffy nodded and Xander took off in search of Wesley. Giles put his head down on the counter and squeezed his eyes shut. The image of Angel and Wesley had jumped unbidden into his head and he wanted it gone. There wasn't enough scotch in the world at that moment. Surprisingly, it was Spike who drew them all back to the present situation.

"So, cheerleader. Why don't you tell us about your vision?"

Xander caught up to the distressed English man at the coffee shop around the corner. He was hunched over at a table in the far corner. Xander went up to the counter and got himself some coffee before slipping into the chair across from him. Wesley looked up at Xander before lowering his head to the table and sighing.

"Aw, come on it isn't that bad."

"I made quite a spectacle of myself back there. I'm so embarrassed."

"Don't be. Who cares? I mean Angel was being an ass, he shouldn't be so afraid of what Buffy thinks. She's his ex and yeah the slayer, but he was the Scourge of Europe. He should be able to take a little heat."

"Yes well, I'm sure had he not been caught off guard..."

"He would have handled it better?"

"Yes, quite. And my acting like a drama queen certainly doesn't help matters."

"You had good reason. If Spike had said that, I would have been upset too. I guess we need to remember that they are old and have different values. At least Angel does, what with him having a soul and all."

"Thank you Xander. I must say I was quite shocked to learn of your relationship with Spike. But I guess dating Cordelia could make any man turn away from women."

Xander couldn't help but laugh at that remark. Wesley laughed as well, it was good to see him in a better mood.

"So, you and the gelled one huh?"

"It's not that much of a shock is it?"

"Well, you know, it's just that you were a watcher. I can't imagine Giles ever taking up with a vamp, souled or not. And before Spike told me about him and Angelus I assumed Angel was very straight. So yeah, it is a bit of a shock. But hey, this is Sunnyhell, anything goes."

"Do you suppose the others will be okay?"

"Does it matter? If you and the caped avenger are happy then who cares? I mean personally, I can't stand Angel and I'm okay with you guys being a couple."

"So, no double dating then?"

Wesley smiled as Xander choked on a mouthful of coffee.

"When did you get so funny? 'Cause the Wesley I remember couldn't pry the stick out of his ass long enough to hear a joke let alone make one."

"Well seeing as my lover is a vampire it would make sense to remove the wooden objects from my body."

"And again with the funny! I like you Wes, you're okay."

"As are you. Now I suppose we should return to the scene of my recent hissy-fit."

"Yeah, I'm sure by now they're waiting for us so we can go after whatever it is you guys are here for."

"Oh bugger. I'd forgotten all about the vision! We really should head back."

At the Magic Box, Cordy was telling the others about her vision.

"I saw the high school, a robed figure and then a lot of demons."

"Er, what kind of demons?"

"All different kinds, I didn't recognize most of them. Sorry Giles."

"Oh, don't be. It's hardly your fault."

Just then Wesley and Xander came back into the shop. They looked around at the rest of the group and then Xander spoke.

"So, I take it we're all gonna die?"

"Nah, just yer regular 'open the hell mouth, release a bunch of nasties' type thing."

"Oh, well that's good. So what's the plan?

A few hours later, plans had been made, Wesley and Angel had left to 'talk' and Xander and Spike were sitting off to one side of the shop alone. Willow came over to them and sat down.

"Xander?"

"Yeah Wills?"

"What did you say to Angel?"

Spike and Xander looked at each other and burst out laughing. Finally Xander stopped laughing enough to speak.

"I simply told him that I knew all about his attraction to bookish English men and if he didn't behave, I would tell Buffy that he was not only involved with Wes, but that he had the hots for Giles as well."

Willow's eyes got really big and she opened and closed her mouth in shock.

"That - that isn't true is it? About Giles I mean, because obviously Wesley and him... But not Giles right?"

"No, not Giles. At least I don't think so. What do you think Spike? Is Angel hot for Giles?"

The others hadn't realized that Buffy had heard them talking. She thought about it for a minute, Spike was English, when he was human he was sweet, smart, and kind of nerdy. Same as Wesley, same as Giles was when she first met him. Oh God! Did Angel have the hots for him when they were together?

"I have to go, I need to... Just... Go."

Buffy left and the others looked around confused.

"Well as much as I'm enjoying the Sunnydale gay and lesbian get together, I need to go and find the LA chapter."

Cordelia left right behind Buffy, and Giles wandered off in search of a stiff drink. It was going to be a very long day.